EtymologyLithgow is a Scottish habitational surname derived from the town of Linlithgow in West Lothian, Scotland. The name ultimately comes from Brythonic (ancient British) elements meaning "pool hollow," likely referring to a geographic feature of the area.Notable BearersA famous bearer of this surname is American actor John Lithgow (born 1945), known for his roles in films such as The World According to Garp and the television series 3rd Rock from the Sun.DistributionAccording to the 2010 United States Census, Lithgow is the 40,432nd most common surname in the United States. The name also appears as a place name in Australia (a city and local government area in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales) and the United States (a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York).Variant FormsThe surname is often a shortened form of Linlithgow, the name of the town in Scotland. No other significant variants or related names are commonly recorded.Meaning: "pool hollow" (Brythonic origin)Origin: Habitational, from Linlithgow, ScotlandType: SurnameUsage Regions: Scotland, Australia, United States